Planoqrapm co



D. KENNEDY.

FUSE FOR PROJECTILPS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- 31. 1918.

1,310,350. Patented July 15, 1919.

2 SiiEETS-SHEET 1.

VVL'ZHBsses T COLUMBIA PLANDURAPII c0.. WASHINGTON D C 0. KENNEDY. FUSE FOR PROJECTILES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 31,1918.

7 V fl///////////////// 7/ V////// Patented July 15, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Wibvsses.

ZZZ/3 UNITED; STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID KENN'EDY, SOUTH NORWOOD, LONDON, ENGLAND.

FUSE FOR PROJEGTILES.

. To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that 1, DAVID KENNEDY, a subject of the King of England, residing in South N orwood, London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improve-' ments'in Fuses for Projectiles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fuses of the type provided with a safety-bolt or other safetymember which moves laterally in relation to the fuse to arm it, but is normally retained in the safety position by a movable retaining-member (hereinafter called the retainer) providedwith a look, its engagement with which is released by set-back.

A primary object of the invention isto provide retaining mechanism adapted to be applied to the body and some of the existing parts of a well-known existing type of fuse, and to provide improved means of release for the safety-bolt thereof in substi-' tution for the releasing means heretofore usually employed.

To this end, retaining mechanism according to the present invent-ion comprises a retainer'in the form of a plate adapted to be so hingedly attached (for example about 7 an axis transverse to the direction of pro jection of the rojectile) to the fuse as to move under setack to become free to swing Container is in the form of a pin-and-slot construction permitting the said movement under set-back by means of the slot and the I said swinging movement about the axis of end, according to the invention, the retainer 7 is used in combination with a cover for it hinged about an axis substantially parallel tov (for example the same as) that of the retainer, this cover being normally in such a position as to prevent the retainenfrom being moved longitudinally by handling it after a security-pin has been Withdrawn.

Preferably, the retainer and cover are constructed to engage one another in such a manner as to prevent pivotal movement of the cover when the retainer is in 1ts normal Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 15, 1919.

Application filed October 31, 1918. Serial No. 260,583.

position but to permit such movement when the. retainer has been movedunder set-back. The retainer, as described above, may have a rigid or yieldingly (for example resiliently) supported projection upon that face of theretainer which is in contact with the safety-bolt of the fuse. Another object of the invention is to provide that the length of the retainer and the situation of its hinge are so chosen in relation to one another and to the position they will occupy within the gun that the retainer will engage the wall of the gun so as to be prevented thereby from swinging about its hinge sufficiently to arm the fuse.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of parts described hereinafter and pointed out in the claims.

The terms herein employed to denote position and direction, such for example as forward, rearward and .lateral are so used considered in relation to the direction in which the projectile is discharged. Thus the forwardfend is the end that is forward at the moment of projection, and so on.

One embodiment of the invention and a modification thereof will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is a front elevation of an improved fuse to which one form of retainer according to the invention is applied;

Fig.2 is a central longitudinal section on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the parts,

Like reference letters designate like parts in all the figures.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 5, A is the body of a fuse, described hereinafter,.pro-

- vided with the usual safety-bolt B adapted,

after the projectile has been discharged, to be ejected laterally from the body of the fuse. A coiled spring C in compression is provided to effect this.

In order that the safety-bolt may be retained in position this invention provides a support in the form of a sleeve D of metal surrounding the body of the fuse formed with laterally-projecting lugs or cheeks D The inner edges of these checks are turned over as seen most clearly in Fig. 5 at D retainer is provided in the form of a plate F having stamped-up lateral flanges GT" slotted at G and also ,havingat one end laterally-projecting tongues F The flanges G do not extend rearward beyond the points G for a reason which appears hereinafter. This plate is mounted by its slots G 'upon a pivot-pin E within the channel between the cheeks D the parts being so proportioned that the tongues F are in register with the overturned edges D of the cheeks when the plate is so situated that the pin E is at the rearward end of the slots'G Preferably a projection, as shown at J in Fig. 2, is formed on the side of the plate which is toward the body of the'fuse .Thls" projection may be formed by punching orotherwise deforming the metal.

Mounted upon the outer ends of'the pin E where it projects through the cheeksD? is a safety-shutter H, movable therefore about the same pivotal axis as that about which the plate F is movable. The shutterhas overturned edges H and a secur ty-pm L is provided to engage these and the cheeks D to lock the shutter dur ng ordinary transit. Furthermore, the overturned edges of the shutter are cut so asto leave of the striker.

the resultant ears H to cause the shutter to engage the outer faces of the cheeks with light friction. The sleeve D' is pierced at K to allow the -safetybolt B to pass freely through it, the hole K being in register with the usual hole provided in the side of the body A for'the safety-bolt.

The fuse illustrated in the drawing to which the above described safety mechanism is applied comprises the usual strlker having a head N which is guided in the body A of the fuse and carries the usual.

ball 0 under the screw-on top plate P of the fuse Thedetonator-holderQ. rests" as usual on an internal shoulder in the body A. Slidable in the body A between this detonator-holder Q, and the head N of the striker pin is aU-shaped or cup-shaped guide R for the striker N. As clearly'shown in Fig.

2, the bottom of this guide is pierced and has a projecting rim R toreceive and guide the striker N, and the side wall of the. guide is pierced to allow the safety-member B to pass through it. A ring Twhichis also pierced in its wall to receive the safetymember B is provided in the guide R and in this position extends to meet the head, N A compression spring Sf surrounding the striker N is arranged between the underside of the head'N and the bottom of theguide R. When the projectile to which the fuse has been fixed is fired,

the safety-memberjB isreleased thelmanner described herelnafter, and the sprlng S .seats theguideR on the detonator-holder Q, the ring T being released from engagement by the safety-member at the same time. Consequently, on the pro ectile striking the target,'set-'back acts either on the detonator-- holder Q, and the guide R and drives them forward against the action of the spring S {until the detonator is struck by the pin, or

on the ball 0 and causes the head N of the striker to move toward the rearagainst the action of the spring S until the pin' strikes'the detonator;

,In the'modified form of retaining mechanism shown in Fig- 7,'the overturned edges H forming sldes of the shutter are provided with grooves H in register with slots cut, as shown at.D. in the cheeks D with J which longer tongues F on the retainer F can engage to interlock the shutter with the retainer so that the shutter cannot move radially unless. the retainer is in its ex-v treme rearward position. Alternatively, the grooves H may be omitted, in which case the tongues F will be only so long that they will extend into, but not through the" e slots at D in the'cheeks D In use, the fuse is prepared for theprojectile, for example a bomb in the usual way, the safety-bolt beinginserted as shown in Fig. 2 between the'striker N and the cup R. The retaining-plate F is swung down about its hinge E so as to hold the safetybolt B in position against the effortof the spring C toeject it and the plate is then slid upward as viewed inFig; 2, into the position shown in F ig'. 2, so that the tongues F engage the overturned edges D ofthecheeks,

thus preventing outward movement of the plate F about its pivot-pin E. The shutter H is then swung down into position and se-' cured there by the security-pin L, If the shutter H is arranged as described above with reference to Fig. 7 is to be interlocked" .wlth the plate F, then the shutter will he surrounding parts, that isto say down, ward as viewed f1n'F1g. 2, so brlnging the i The I tongues F clear of the edges D movement 1s, however, checked when the pin E engages the forward endof the slot G and the plate F flies outward under the influence 0f the spring C, which latter fiings boththe plate F and the shutter H outward about thepin E and also ejects the safetybolt clear of the piece. I

The projection at J on the plateF constitutes a stop and serves to prevent the dis placement of the plate under ordinary jars such as arise in handling; the side flanges G of the plate terminate at their rearward end .at the-point G shown in the drawing and the cheeks. D are perfectly bridged by a closingpiece seen. at D in order that this piece, together with the shutter H, shall serve toimpede the entryof mud through the holeK after the bolt B has been ej ected.

It is to be noted that owing to their pivotal mounting and owing to their being secured to the fuse by such. mounting, neither the shutter H nor the plate F is left behind in the gun nor does either tend to foul the swinging about its hinge sufliciently to arm a the fuse fixed'on abomb W that is being fired from the gun.

Animportant feature of the present invention is that theiretainirrg mechanism com risin the sleeve D and arts carried upon it may be made up and'applied to the existing body Ao-f a known fuse without alteration 'to the body or its internal parts,

'and the scope of this invention extends to the manufacture of the sleeve and the parts secured to it as constituting a retaining device thus readily applicable to an existing article. It is further to'be' observed that the retainer is so constructed and situated that it can be seen at a glance whether or not the fuse is armed.

EWha-tI claim as my invention and desire to secure 'by'Letters Patent is 1. In retaining mechanismfor the safetymember of a fuseythe'combination with a support adapted to bemounted on the fuse,

of a r'etaining'platewhich is mounted to rock about the support and is normally en gaged thereby to retain the safety-member in its operative position, said plate being adapted to move under set-back clear of the part ofthe support normally engaging the same'to become freetorock and thereby re- "2. In retaining mechanism for the safety member of fuse, 'thecombina-tion with a support adapted to be mounted on the fuse, of 'a retaining plate which is mounted to rock about and to slide relatively to the supportand is normally engaged thereby to retain the safety-memberin its operative position, said plate being adapted to slide under setback .clear of the part of the support normally engagin the same to become free to rock and there y release the safety-member and arm the fuse.

3. In retaining mechanism for the safetymember of a fuse, the combination with a support adapted to be mounted on the fuse, of a pin mounted on the support at right-angles to the longitudinal axis of the fuse, and a retaining plate which is mounted at one end to rock about and to slide relatively to said pin. and has its other end adapted to abut against the support to retain the safetymember in its operative position, said plate being adapted to slide under set-back clear of the part of the support normally coacting with the same to become free to rock and thereby release the safety-member.

4. In retaining mechanism for the safetymember of a fuse, the combination with a support adapted to 'be mounted on the fuse, of a retaining plate which is mounted to rock about the support and is normally held thereby to retain the safety-member in its operative position, and a cover for the retaining plate mounted to rock on said support, said plate being adapted to mov under set-back clear of the part of the support normally coacting therewith to become free to rock and thereby release the safety-member.

5. In retaining mechanism for the safetymember of a fuse, the combination with a support adapted to be mounted on the fuse, of a pin mounted on the support at rightangles to the longitudinal axis of the fuse, a retaining plate mounted at one end to rock about and to slide transversely of said pin, and a cover for the retaining plate having one end pivotally mounted on said pin, the other end of said retaining plate being adapted in one extreme position to engage the other end of said cover and said support and thereby retain the cover and the safety-member in their normal positions, said retaining plate being adapted to slide under set-back into its other extreme position clear of the support and the cover and thereby release the safetymember.

6. In retaining mechanism for the safetymember of a fuse, the combination with a support adapted to be mounted on the fuse, of a retaining plate which is mounted to rock. about the support and is normally held thereby to retain the safety-member in its operative position, said plate having a projection constituting a stop located inoperative relation to the safety-member when the plate is 7. In retaining mechanism for the safety: member of a fuse, the combination with a support adapted to be mounted on the fuse,-

of a retaining plate which is pivotally mounted to rock about the support and is normally engaged thereby to retain the safety-member il in its operative position, said plate being adapted to move under set-back clear of the part of the support normally engagingthe" one another and to the position they will 00- cupy within the gun that the retaining plate will coaot with the wall of the gun was to be prevented thereby from rocking about its pivot sufiiciently to release the safety-mean havmg lugs at one-end and slots in overber. r

8. The combination, with a projectile-fuse having a spring-pressed safety mem'ber pro-- jecting through the body thereof,rof a: support mounted on the body of the fuse, a plate 1 shaped retainer which is mounted to rock about the support and is normally engagedthereby to retain the safety-member inits operative position, said retainer being adapted to move under set-back clear of-the part of the support normally co-acting with thesame to become free to rock and thereby release-the safety-member. v

9. The combination, with a projectile-fuse having a spring-pressed safety-member pro jecting through the body thereof, of a support mounted on the body of the fuse, a rte-- taining plate which is pivotally mounted to rock about and to slide relatively to the support and is nor'mallyengaged thereby to retain the safety-member in its operative position, said plate being adapted to slide under set-back clear of the part of the support normally engagingthe same tobecome free to rock and thereby release the safetymember.

10. The combination, with a projectilefuse having'a spring-pressed safety-member projecting through the body thereof, of J a support mounted on the body. of the fuse, a pin mounted on the support at right-amgles to the longitudinal axis of the fuse, and v a retaining plate mounted at one end" to rock about and to slide transversely of said pin and having its other end adapted to:

abut against the support to retain the safety-member in its operatlve position, said plate being adapted to slideunder set-back' clear of the part of the support normally coacting with the same to become free to rock and thereby release the safety-member.

11. The combination, with a projectilefuse having a spring-pressed safety-member projecting through the body thereof, of

a support mounted on the body of the fuse,

\ a retaining plate which is mounted to rock about the support and is normally engaged thereby to retain the safety-member in its operative-position, and a cover for the retaming platerm'ounted to rock on said'support, said plate being adapted: to move' under' set back clear; of the part of the support normally engaging th'esame to become? free to' rock and thereby releasethe' safety member. I

12.; The combination, with a projectile; fuse having a spring-pressed safety-bolt projecting through: the; wall of the body? the body of the fuse and having two pro-' jectingcheeks situated one at each side of the end of the safety-bolt, a pin mounted in said cheeks at right-angles tothe longithereof, of an annular'supportmounted on tudinal'a-Xis of the fuse, a retaining plate sition', andbeing adapted to'moveunder'setback into another extreme position elearof' the support and thereby release the safety-- membera r a r I 13. The combination, with a fuse com prising a hollow cylindricalbody, a deto" nator-holder seated in one end thereof, a I

top plate screwed into the other end thereof, a striker pin having a head slidablein the body, and aball locatedbetween the head of the striker pin and said top plate, a guide for the point end of the pin pierced in; its bottonrto receiveand guide'thepin and having a hole in its sidewalI,-ca spring in compression betweenthe under side of"; p

the said headand the bottom of said guide,--, and a spring-pressed safety-member extende ingfro'm inside said. uide' through-thebody of the fuse to outsi e the 1atter,- off asupport mounted outside the body of the fusea retaining plate which is mounted to-rockabout the support and is-normallyengaged thereby to retain .theHs'afety-mefmber in-its operative position ex-tending. through said guide, said retaining plate being, adapted to move under set-back clear of'the part of the supportdnormally engaging the same to become free toroek and-thereby release the safety-member;

,1. L'.,The combination, wi-tha com-.

' prising a hollow-cylindrical body having ahole in. the-side wall thereof, a detonatorholderseatedin one end thereof, a topplate screwed into the other end-'thereofla striker pin having a headislidable in thebody, a c ball located between the head of the strikerpin andsaid top plate, a; cup-shaped guide pierced in its bottom to receiveand guidethe pin and haying a hole in itsside walL;

a ring located in said guide and having a hole 111 its slde wall, a sprlng 1n compression between the under side of said head and the bottom of said guide, and a springpressed safety-member extending through i a is normally engaged thereby to retain the safety-member in its operative position in which it extends through said holes, said plate being adapted to move under set-back clear of the part of the support normally engaging the same to become free to rock and thereby release the safety-member.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

DAVID KENNEDY.

copies of thiapatent may be obtained for five cents'each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

